Forgetting but not gone: dementia and the arts
A fascinating project is harnessing the power of the arts to unlock creativity and communication.
A fascinating project is harnessing the power of the arts to unlock creativity and communication.
BFI Flare: London LGBTQ+ Film Festival is 30. Over 100 programmers, critics and filmmakers voted for the 30 greatest LGBTQ+ films of all time.
On 12 February 2018, over 250 people from across the UK gathered to share ideas and inspiration in preparation for the special 20th anniversary edition of Refugee Week (18-24 June 2018). Find here some notes and resources from the six workshops that were held during the conference.
Many d/Deaf people report bad experiences in cinemas such as poor customer service, or lack of subtitles on advertised screenings. Because of this, cinema trips can become stressful. d/Deaf audiences of colour may feel further reluctance to go to the cinema if they’ve experienced racial prejudice or don’t feel represented in their cinema. Running a club that supports an intersectional audience in this way creates a safe space for d/Deaf audiences of colour and can provide valuable cultural experiences and social opportunities.
Relaxed screenings are screenings where the environment has been adapted to be more welcoming and accessible to people with additional needs.
These could be people living with dementia, autism, or other neurodiverse people. These screenings are identifiable by some adjustments such as altered lighting, volume of sound, arrangement of the venue, and usually don’t have trailers, and customers are encouraged to get up and move around, or speak or make noise if they want to/feel the need to. Screenings are usually introduced so that everyone attending realises talking and movement is allowed.
There is a detailed dementia-friendly screenings guide available here for those looking to run specific dementia-friendly screenings.
Dimensions, UKCA and FAN are collaborating on a comprehensive autism-friendly screenings guide currently, which will be shared in 2019.
Our pioneering project, A Life More Ordinary, gives people living with dementia and memory loss more choice, more control and greater access to leisure and cultural opportunities at The Dukes. Crucially, it is a project which takes place in ‘ordinary’ public settings, not in care or medical settings. The intention is that people can feel … More
Colinsburgh Community Cinema is a not-for-profit community organisation run by four friends and based in the Scottish village of Colinsburgh. It is in its sixth season [2013-14]. The village is situated in rural Fife and has a population of 250 although we also draw our audience from the Fife coastal villages along the Forth and … More
In 2012, Orkney resident Mark Jenkins was tasked with looking into developing a film festival for locals, with support from Orkney Islands Council and Visit Orkney. General feedback that Mark received over the next year was that there wasn’t really a local appetite for a temporary film event – without a local core audience and … More
In 2016 Film Hub Wales approached venues across North Wales to develop a project designed to reduce isolation, build creative infrastructure and generate buzz around British independent and international films. Galeri, Pontio, Theatr Ardudwy and CELLB responded, bringing expertise and new cinema experiences to audiences in Gwynedd.
Conversations About Cinema: Impact of Conflict (Jan – July 2015) opened up discussions around a universal theme through film screenings, events and online publishing. It connected audiences, cinemas and partners across the BFI Film Audience Network, focusing on South West & West Midlands, Wales and Northern Ireland.